Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush [Paperback]

Center For Constitutional Rights (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Some of the nation's foremost Constitutional scholars lay out the case exactly as it would be presented to the US Senate. Clear, concise, and powerful.

IS THERE REALLY A LEGAL CASE AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH?

Saying aloud what’s being said behind the scenes in the corridors of power . . .

In these highly-charged political times, it is the word that dare not speak its name: impeachment. Democrats and other opponents of the President, as well as people in the media, are afraid to raise the topic for fear of being called too partisan or extreme.

But the startling revelation of the President’s warrantless wiretapping campaign may be the straw that broke the camel's back: In the halls of Congress and on the front pages of a growing number of mainstream periodicals, impeachment is being discussed more and more openly. And many leading constitutional scholars agree: there has never been so strong a case for impeachment since Richard Nixon.

In Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush, Michael Ratner, Bill Goodman and other experts at one of our nation's leading institutions of constitutional scholarship, the Center for Constitutional Rights, set out the legal arguments for impeachment in a clear, concise, and objective discussion. In four separate articles of impeachment detailing four separate charges –warrantless surveillance, misleading Congress on the reasons for the Iraq war, violating laws against torture, and subverting the Constitution’s separation of powers – it is, say the CCR attorneys, a case of black letter law, with abundant evidence.

Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush details that evidence, the relevant laws and the legal precedents. It also explains what the Constitution says about impeachment – an informative discussion further illuminated by supplemental material that includes a history of impeachment, explanation of its procedures, and the previous articles of impeachment brought against Presidents Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

With leading Republicans calling for investigations of the domestic spying campaign, a special prosecutor investigating the suppression of evidence used to launch the Iraq war, and hearings on innumerable instances of torture, In Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush may be more timely than any of us would like to admit.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights demonstrators in the South, the Center for Constitutional Rights is a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Most recently CCR has filed a case against the President and NSA for warrantless wiretapping.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Melville House; 1 edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933633085
• ISBN-13: 978-1933633084
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.5 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,540,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book for Every American, May 2, 2006

By 

Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush (Paperback)

While the title announces the obvious bias of the writers, this work is not an attempt at Bush-bashing. On the contrary, the authors present a dispassionate list of four articles and specifications against George W. Bush for high crimes and misdemeanors.

In layman's language, the authors make a compelling case for recommending impeachment of our president. They compile their reasons as one would expect to hear them argued in a court of law. The book provides the reader with background information on where impeachment came from, what the founding fathers thought of the concept, and how it should be applied.

The most disturbing parts of this short book is the list of specifications against the president based upon what he has allowed or ordered to happen: unlawful detentions of American citizens, kidnappings, torture, and constitutional abuse by changing the law and the balance of power within our republic by adding "signing statements." The book explains clearly the constitutional limitations on presidential power that is currently being ignored. The specifications do not sound like anything I would have imagined in America, or what it means to be an American.

Our president took an oath to faithfully execute the office of the president and preserve, protect and defend the constitution. After reading this, you may have your doubts.

I recommend this for everyone.

74 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expert analysis of Constitutional Law, Impeachment and Justice, March 30, 2006

By 

Nicholas Soucy (Lansing, Mi United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush (Paperback)

Regardless of which political party you identify with, I urge you to read this short but critical text. At 144 pages, most readers will digest this little tome in one day, undoubtedly fascinated and persuaded by its core arguments.

The book conveniently chronicles the major legal blunders and human rights offenses perpetrated by the Bush Administration including: illegal indefinite detention of US and international citizens without allowing them legal counsel; condoning of torture; illegal wire-tapping and pre-emptive warfare. Arguments could also be made that the Administration is guilty of violating myriad environmental laws.

I'm proud to see that this book has turned out to be legally astute, logical and comprehensive. The authors avoid ad hominem attacks on the president's character, and instead focus on his actions, his violations and some similarities to Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

The arguments are cogently written and easy to follow even for lay readers like me who are not legal scholars.

It's important to remember that impeachment is a two-part process. Put simply, the impeachment from the House is basically the investigation, accusation or pre-trial stage. No removal from office occurs at this point. Next, the Senate acts as judge and jury, examining the details and removing the accused from office if the incriminating evidence is clear and persuasive enough. (The book covers the process in more eloquent detail.)

It is of paramount importance to use this governmental tool called impeachment to show our citizens and the rest of the world that we are indeed concerned and outraged by subversion of the U.S. Constitution and international law.

Demanding accountability from our government leaders is the ultimate patriotic duty. We can show our support for the USA by demonstrating that we will not tolerate Bush's affront to our country's laws.

Voting is the very least we can do as citizens in a representative democracy. American citizens ought to be more actively communicating to our representatives that the entire nation is willing to act as a checking and balancing network for the three branches of government.

It may turn out that Congress doesn't agree with the Center for Constitutional Rights, and that the Senate will acquit the charges, leaving George W. Bush in power. Regardless of the verdict, we should still make the effort to investigate the history of accusations and evidence made against the president. If we neglect this opportunity, then we become indirect advocates of the Administration's policies. Remember that silence and inaction about presidential misconduct are tantamount to complicity.

If the Democrats win the Congress back in the mid-term (2006) elections, there will be a better chance of impeaching, trying and removing the president from office. Until then, we need to research and prepare for what will prove to be a long and tiring struggle to bring a corrupt administration to justice.

This is a serious book for serious times. I urge all who read this book to buy a copy for their House Representatives, which can be done for a discounted [...] from the Center for Constitutional Rights website (www.CCR-NY.org).

66 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critical book for critical times, March 10, 2006

By 

Tough times call for Tough action (Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush (Paperback)

I have been skeptical of this "impeachment" talk since I first it heard it publicly muttered. However, as disaster after disaster has happened under Bush's watch, I couldn't simply ignore the impeachment banter. So, it was with some reservation that I picked up this book written by the Center for Constitutional Rights.

I was apprehensive about reading it not just because of the subject, but also the typical inaccesible writing style of attorneys. However, I found this book and the arguments laid out, easy to digest and after careful reading - easy to agree with.

The Center for Constitutional Rights' arguments are thoughtful, pragmatic, and - I actually have to say - necessary. I can only hope that there will be some Senators with guts enough to take the stand before things get any worse.